Overheard a foreman on a union job site and it changed my mortar mix

I was working a commercial job over near Elm Street last month, and this old foreman was telling a younger guy he never uses more than 3 parts sand to 1 part Portland. I always did 4 to 1 for everything because that's what my first boss showed me. He said too much sand makes the joints crumble in 10 years, and the way he pointed at some old brickwork on the building backing us up convinced me. Has anyone else switched their sand ratio after seeing how it holds up over time?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_joseph1mo ago

Damn, only 3 parts sand to 1 part Portland? That sounds stiff as a board. My old boss always said 4 to 1 was money and I never questioned it. Maybe I've been making weak joints this whole time without knowing.

karen_sanchez101mo agoMost Upvoted

Yeah @the_joseph, that 4 to 1 ratio is what my uncle swore by and he built patios that'd outlast the house. I tried 3 to 1 once and it set up so fast I nearly had to chisel the trowel out of my hand.

gray_gibson10d ago

Ha! Bet @karen_sanchez10's uncle was just tired of buying extra bags of Portland.

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